August is doing what August does in Virginia — showgrounds full from the Shenandoah Valley to Powhatan, and a free polo match if you'd rather watch than ride. Here's where to point the trailer this weekend.
Weekend highlights
[Lexington National Horse Show A – Festival of Champions](/events/lexington-national-horse-show-a-festival-of-champions) runs through Sunday at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. This VHC-owned hunter/jumper show started Wednesday and finishes out the week with championship classes — worth the drive even as a spectator, and the grounds are easy to wander.
[Morven Park Summer Show Series II](/events/morven-park-summer-show-series-ii) brings two days of hunter/jumper competition to the Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Saturday and Sunday. The summer series is a reliable spot for horses getting mileage before fall shows.
[Regional Pony Club Rally](/events/regional-pony-club-rally) takes over the showgrounds at Deep Run Farm in Manakin-Sabot, Friday through Sunday. Multi-discipline, team-format, and one of the best weekends of the year to watch young riders do their own horse management.
[Oakdale Summer HT/CT & Dressage Show](/events/oakdale-summer-ht-ct-and-dressage-show) runs Sunday at Oakdale Equestrian Center in Powhatan — horse trials, combined test, and dressage in one day as part of the VA Eventing & Dressage Show Series. No membership required, and it counts toward year-end awards.
[Roseland Polo Sunday Matches](/events/roseland-polo-sunday-matches-2026-season) continue at King Family Vineyards in Crozet. Gates at 10 a.m., matches at noon and 2 p.m., free and no tickets needed. Check the Roseland Polo page after 9 a.m. Sunday if the weather looks unsettled.
Also on the calendar: the Rockbridge Community Horse Show Saturday in Lexington, the Southwest Virginia Barrel Blast in Wytheville, and Saturday-evening arena polo at Great Meadow.
Looking ahead
- Aug 13 — CDCTA Summer Dressage Schooling Show, Great Meadow, The Plains
- Aug 14–16 — Virginia Classic Paint Horse Show and NBHA Colonial Nationals, Virginia Horse Center
- Aug 15–16 — Bristol Virginia Rodeo; VHC Starter Trials; Keswick Hunt Club Foxhunting Clinic
- Aug 18–19 — Prince William County Fair Horse Show, Manassas
- Aug 20–23 — Sallie B. Wheeler / Virginia Young Horse Show and the USHJA Young Hunter Pony National Championship, Lexington
- Aug 22 — Windchase Cross-Country Derby, Orange
Full listings are always on the events calendar. Ride safe out there.